Darbar Festival: the world’s largest festival of Indian classical music (outside India) returns to the Barbican Centre

The world’s largest festival of Indian classical music (outside India) returns to the Barbican Centre from 24 to 27 October 2024 when Darbar Festival presents the finest international and UK Indian classical musicians with a mix of emerging  talent, master performers making their UK debut, and a medley of world class legends.

Launched 19 years ago in memory of Gurmit Singh Ji Virdee, an inspirational tabla player, teacher and the father of artistic director Sandeep Virdee, the 2024 programme includes concerts, workshops, talks, free family events and a pop-up market. Sandeep Virdee said: “Indian classical music is often misunderstood as an obscure artform that distances the audience. Far from it. With a vast repertoire of music styles and subgenres depending on your emotional state, it has the power to stir, thrill and inspire the soul. We are delighted to showcase the world’s finest proponents of this magical artform and welcome audiences from richly diverse backgrounds near and far.“

Performers include India’s finest tabla legend, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee with his son and fellow tabla player, Anubrata Chatterjee, India’s foremost female vocalist, Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, sitar player Pandit Kushal Das, violinist, composer and conductor, Dr L Subramaniam, makes his Darbar Festival debut with his son Ambi Subramaniam, to champion contemporary Carnatic percussion, sarod instrumentalist Amaan Ali Bangash who makes his UK solo debut  accompanied by Anubrata Chatterjee on tabla, and Carnatic vocalist, Aruna Sairam.

Jayanthi Kumaresh, a virtuoso of the Saraswati veena, hosts Veena Unwrapped a  lecture demonstration that shares her expertise, insights and passion for the veena. Dr L Subramaniam’s lecture East West Composition Unwrapped explores his approach to composition.

Full details from the Darbar Festival website.